UAE: Nigerian Employment Visa Applicants Subject to Consular Process

Analysis

With immediate effect, Nigerian nationals applying for a new employment residence permit sponsored by a company in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) must process their immigration application through a designated United Arab Emirates (UAE) visa service centre in Abuja in order to obtain an entry visa. It is expected similar processes will soon be implemented in other jurisdictions in the UAE.

Applications for Nigerian nationals who are in the UAE (e.g. on a visit visa) are currently not impacted by this change.

Background

In the past two years, the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry (MOFAIC) opened a number of visa service centres for processing UAE entry visas in the following countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Tunisia.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

Nigerian nationals should ensure they have additional blank pages in their passport for endorsement of the entry visa, residence visa and entry stamps. Those residing in a third country (including another GCC member state) will be required to travel to Nigeria to complete their medical examination and apply for the entry visa.